Disclaimer: Atlantis does not belong to me. I wrote this story for enjoyment purposes only.

Author's Note: It's hard to believe that this was my very first SGA fic, written so long ago. Now, when time permits, I'll be going back over it again to smooth over some rough spots and hopefully make this an even better story. Thank you for all of your reviews.

Carousel (Part 1)

"Of all the stupid, pig-headed, arrogant questions. 'Are you asleep, Doctor?' It's 2:30 in the bloody morning, what does he think I'm gonna be doing? That man has to be stopped," Dr. Carson Beckett swore under his breath as he rapidly made his way down to Dr. McKay's lab. Only moments before, the physician had been sleeping peacefully for the first time in a week, dreaming of his grandmother's cooking, when the intercom beside his bed woke him with a horrific shrilling noise and Rodney's panicking voice. Apparently, Atlantis's resident genius had touched something and once again found himself in need of medical assistance.

Shifting his small med kit to his left hand, he grasped the railing while descending the narrow steps. He wished he could go back in time and teach the physicist's mother how to tell the young lad the meaning of 'No, now go to bed!' How many more of these late night trips was it going to take before someone finally locked McKay out of the labs at night?

Stopping at the base of the steps, Carson sniffed the air. "Yea, definitely something burning. Most likely the darned fools hand. You'd think the lad would be tired of this by now," he grumbled as he picked up his paced once in the hallway, then into the smoke filled room. The sight before him caused the briefest of hesitations to gain his bearings, before hurrying straight to the still figure wearing singed pajamas, propped at an angle against the wall.

Carson eyed his patient closely, losing all hostility when the scientist's eyes slid shut. "Come on, now, Rodney," he encouraged as he leaned closer to examine what appeared to be first degree burn marks on McKay's face and hands. "Can you tell me what happened? Where are you hurt?"

Pale blue eyes cracked open and met his concerned gaze. "I...I was getting ready for bed and heard a noise in the lab. I came back to check and thought I saw someone inside."

The physician quickly glanced around the room, grateful to not spy anyone else. "I'm gonna have to call Major Sheppard to come down here if you think you saw an intruder."

Rodney nodded before closing his eyes again and leaning his aching head back against the cool wall. All he wanted to do was take something for the pounding in his skull and make the fire in his hands and face go away. He jerked when he felt Carson's cool hand touch the base of his neck, connecting with the painful bump.

"Did you get hit?"

He started to shake his head and instantly regretted it. "No, I fell when the..." he waved his hand in the air, "the 'whatever' happened."

"Okay, lad, I'm gonna call someone to come and give me a hand. You might have a concussion, so I want to keep an eye on you in the infirmary. That'll give me a chance to help you with these burns, also." Rising to his feet, he took two steps back and paged Sheppard over his earpiece.

A moment later, the officer's gruf, sleep-filled voice responded back through the unit. "Yeah, doc?"

"Major, I need you down in Dr. McKay's lab, immediately."

A deep sigh filled the line. "Did he set himself on fire, again?"

Carson looked to the injured man and grimaced when his own thoughts from earlier were echoed back at him. "No, it's a bit more serious than that, I believe. We might have an intruder."

Sheppard's voice instantly became more alert. "Is anyone hurt?"

"Rodney appears to have been near a small explosion. He'll get to be my guest for the next twenty-four hours."

"I'll be right there."

Knowing the major would notify Dr. Weir, Carson then paged the infirmary and requested a litter to be sent to their location. Once finished, he hunkered down beside the quiet scientist and gently touched the man's wrist , checking his pulse. "How are you doing?"

"As soon as I get you upstairs, I'll see what I can do to make your more comfortable." Not receiving a reply with any of the usual bluster or snide comments left him concerned. "I'll have you feelin' better soon, Rodney. You try to rest until the others get here."

Within moments, the sound of people running in their direction could be heard. It was Major Sheppard first, followed by severeral support team members, that discovered the pair of doctors sitting side by side on the floor, expectantly waiting for them.

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